Human Embryos Can Now Be Developed In The Lab Past 14 Days After Historic Guideline Change

Scientists will now be able to grow human embryos for longer than 14 days after the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has updated their guidelines.

The "14-day rule", which has been in place since the late 1900s, was designed to prevent researchers from developing embryos past the point in which a visible line of cells begins to form, but significant strides in research have meant that relaxing this rule is necessary to further developmental research. Each case will now be subject to rigorous ethics review and approval before researchers are allowed to continue the growth of an embryo.

While the study of human embryos is steeped in controversial debate, researchers believe relaxing the guidelines is important to understand developmental issues that arise past the 14-day mark.

“New scientific approaches are continuing emerge in all areas, but notably around stem cell science. Some of these emerging technologies present ethical challenges, even when the benefit to human health may be the long term objective,” said Professor Melissa Little, Chief Scientist, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and incoming President of the ISSCR, in a statement.

“This is particularly so in research modelling the human embryo and generating human-animal chimeric tissues. The fact that these guidelines have been developed by the research community itself indicates a deep sense of responsibility and integrity and an active desire to ensure that the science is in step with the community.”